By Kemo Cham
A young Sierra Leonean innovator has developed a cutting-edge solution for environmental compliance. Photo credit, Apollo Strategic Communications
Abdul Karim Sesay, an entrepreneur and a student at the African Leadership University, created an innovativedevicethat harnesses sensor technologies, robotics, and data-driven analytics to promote environmental compliance. The technology has been billed toadvance global progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The development came as world leaders gather for UN Sustainability Week, which is ongoing from 15-19 April. It’s designed to take stock of the world’s progress in achieving the SDG agenda by 2030.
Abdul in a press statement shared with ManoReporters called on policymakers attending the UN conference to support ventures that build climate resilience among vulnerable communities in Africa.
Taking centre stage in discussions at the UN confab is SDG 13, which envisages urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Sierra Leone is ranked among the top 10% of countries most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, which are driving unpredictable weather patterns, severe flooding, and food insecurity.
The administration of President Julius Maada Bio has made tremendous stride towards a clean and protected environment, including the designation of a dedicated environment ministry and the passing of a new Environmental Protection Agency Act in 2022, thereby further empowering the agency responsible to protect the environment. But observers say much more efforts are needed to implement environmental governance within local communities.
Abdul’s innovation, the ‘Altruistech Environmental Compliance Gauge’, provides answers to some of these issues. The robotic car comprises data collection sensors, which include noise pollution monitors, carbon sensors, and waste management trackers, designed to promote public environmental accountability.
The data collected is analysed within a cloud system, which calculates an organisation’s environmental compliance level across factors such as solid waste generation, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and noise pollution. The levels are then translated into colour profiles using beaming light technology.
The innovation has been put into use in Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda, where it enabled seven oil, gas, and mining companies as well as educational institutions to collect real-time data on their environmental impact, and address issues of non-compliance with safety policies.
There are a lot of such environmental issues across Sierra Leone, whose economy largely depends on mining. Communities hosting mining companies are replete with complaints of environmental degradations. And the relevant institutions assigned to regulate the sector aren’t equipped enough to deal with these issues.
“My time at ALU has taught me that it is our responsibility as the next generation of African leaders to drive socioeconomic development. Drawing on my deep commitment to promoting climate justice, and the skills, experience, and support I have gained at ALU in designing innovative climate technologies, I created this solution to help organisations reduce their environmental footprint and enhance ecological conservation,” Abdul is quoted.
“Promoting sustainable development is key to holding individuals and organisations accountable for their impact on the environment. By supporting young innovators such as myself, who are bursting with energy and vibrant ideas, world leaders can advance global goals in promoting climate resilience among vulnerable communities in Africa,” he added.
Abdul reportedly developed Altruistech during his time as a Global Challenges student at ALU, which has a state-of-the-art campus in Kigali, Rwanda, and a college in Pamplemousses, Mauritius.
ALU was conceived to help train Africa’s future leaders and visionaries through a mix of mission-led study and work experience. It aims to develop three million ethical and entrepreneurial African leaders by 2035.
So far, more than a quarter of their alumni have started 140 unique ventures, created more than 44,000 jobs, and raised almost US$6 million.
Veda Sunassee, the CEO of ALU, said Africa’s youth is characterized by relentless progress and boundless potential that the rest of the world needs to not only acknowledge but also actively support and nurture.
“Abdul embodies the essence of innovation capital. His journey with Altruistech is a combination of knowledge, creative problem-solving skills and forward-thinking mindset instilled in ALU students,” said Sunassee.
The Environmental Compliance Gauge is just the latest in the innovative solutions Abdul and his fellow co-founders have been involved with under Altruistech Innovations. Each of the solutions they create seeks to address each of the 17 SDGs, one project at a time.
One of their previous creations is ‘Altruis-Health’, a mobile application that provides adequate access to mental health services by connecting patients to certified professionals, for affordable care.
‘Altruistech Clean Water Innovation,’ another of their inventions, leverages IoT to detect particles in water and, using artificial intelligence, checks their level of safety. This device is already helping to promote access to clean water and sanitation in two rural communities in Sierra Leone.
The group have also launched the ‘Atruistech & Creativity Hub’ in Sierra Leone, making space aimed at boosting digital literacy, fostering S.T.E.M. education, instilling confidence, expanding knowledge, shaping positive mindsets, encouraging effective learning habits, and motivating youth to embrace scientific and critical thinking. This hub focuses on IoT engineering experiments aimed at addressing climate change, environmental safety, clean water access, agriculture, and food security challenges. The initiative is geared towards empowering youth to become innovators and champions of sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
Around 60 young people have benefited from the Creativity Hub, and there are plans to launch the Altruistech STEM Innovation & Design Thinking Competition For High School Students through a partnership with the National Commission For Children.
Abdul has received global recognition for his cutting-edge solutions, being named as one of the Top 30 innovators in Sierra Leone by the Orange Social Venture Prize 2022. He is also an Under 40 Africa Green Award nominee, and he was selected as one of 40 individuals from 12 African countries to participate in the Triggering Exponential Climate Action programme. The latter is supported by FSD Africa and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with the aim of empowering the next generation of climate entrepreneurs.
Altruistech Innovations has also won the global Fish Bowl Challenge and a share of $50,000 to scale their venture.
